Professor Emerita Gene Cranston Anderson Discusses Benefits of Skin-to-Skin Contact for Babies

Gene Cranston Anderson

Skin-to-skin contact—also called kangaroo care—has many benefits for babies. Learn how to practice it here.

When you have a new baby, you'll undoubtedly spend a lot of time holding them. More likely than not, your health care team will advise you to practice skin-to-skin contact, also known as kangaroo care, which has all kinds of benefits for parents and babies alike. While often touted as a strategy for preemies or babies that need extra medical attention after birth, skin-to-skin contact can have positive effects for all infants. Read on to learn more about the benefits of kangaroo care, along with how to practice it with your little one at home.

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Bonding With All Parents

It's important to note that skin-to-skin contact can be practiced with parents of any sex, and it doesn't have to be only a breastfeeding parent. "From their time in the womb, babies recognize their fathers' voice," says kangaroo care researcher Gene Cranston Anderson, PhD, RN, professor emeritus of nursing at ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ in Cleveland. "Babies find skin-to-skin contact...calming, and it helps them bond."

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